The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has outrightly rejected the one-year transition program announced by Guinea-Bissau's military junta following the November 26, 2025, coup d'état, demanding instead a short, inclusive transition and threatening targeted sanctions against obstructors.
In a communiqué issued on December 15, 2025, following the 68th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government held on December 14 in Abuja, Nigeria, ECOWAS leaders condemned the military takeover and called for the immediate release of all political detainees. The bloc emphasized the need for an inclusive government reflecting Guinea-Bissau's political and societal spectrum to oversee constitutional reforms and organize credible elections.
"The authority outrightly rejects the 'transition program' as recently announced by the authorities in Guinea-Bissau," the statement read. It further stipulated the "institution of a short transition to be led by an inclusive government" and warned that failure to comply would result in "targeted sanctions on all individuals or groups of persons that obstruct the return to constitutional order through an inclusive process."
ECOWAS Commission President Omar Alieu Touray underscored the bloc's "zero tolerance for unconstitutional change of government," noting that the November 23, 2025, presidential and legislative elections were deemed free, transparent, and peaceful by observers from ECOWAS, the African Union (AU), and the Community of Portuguese Language Countries.
The coup, led by military officers under the "High Military Command for the Restoration of National Security and Public Order," occurred amid a disputed presidential election. Incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and independent candidate Fernando Dias (endorsed by opposition forces) both claimed victory before official results could be announced. On November 26, gunfire erupted near the presidential palace and electoral commission in Bissau, leading to Embaló's arrest. The junta accused politicians and drug traffickers of plotting to manipulate results.
The following day, Major-General Horta Inta-A (also referred to as Horta Inta-A Na Man) was sworn in as transitional president, promising a one-year transition with elections at its conclusion. The junta adopted a transitional charter earlier in December, but ECOWAS dismissed it as prolonging military rule.
Guinea-Bissau's National Electoral Commission later reported that armed men seized ballots, tally sheets, and computers post-coup, destroying servers and rendering it impossible to proclaim results—further complicating ECOWAS demands to complete the electoral process.
ECOWAS suspended Guinea-Bissau from its decision-making bodies immediately after the coup and has mandated its chair, Sierra Leone's President Julius Maada Bio, to lead a high-level delegation for talks with the junta. The bloc urged the AU and international partners to support its efforts.
This incident marks the ninth coup in West and Central Africa in five years, exacerbating concerns over democratic erosion in a region plagued by jihadist insurgencies, economic challenges, and political instability. Guinea-Bissau, a former Portuguese colony known as a cocaine transit hub, has endured numerous coups since independence in 1974, with chronic instability tied to military involvement in politics and narco-trafficking.
Critics, including opposition figures, have labeled the takeover a "fabricated" or "sham" coup, suggesting it aimed to prevent unfavorable election outcomes. Embaló, who fled to Senegal and later Morocco, faced legitimacy questions even before the vote, with opponents arguing his term had expired.
The AU echoed ECOWAS condemnation, calling for Embaló's unconditional release and respect for the electoral process. International reactions, including from the United Nations and Portugal, urged restraint and a return to civilian rule.
As tensions persist, with protests banned and borders initially closed, the junta has appointed a cabinet largely aligned with the former administration. ECOWAS's firm stance reflects a broader shift toward proactive measures against coups, including potential deployment of its standby force.
This development tests ECOWAS's unity and enforcement mechanisms, especially after withdrawals by Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger following prior coups. Analysts warn prolonged military rule could deepen instability in Guinea-Bissau, undermining regional security and economic integration efforts.
